Written Answers

Thursday 21 June 2001

Scottish Executive

Arts

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote arts programmes for young people and children with disabilities.

Allan Wilson: Arts programmes are available in all schools to all children. The Executive also provides resources to SENSE Scotland who, as part of their work with the disabled, provide a number of arts programmes for children. The Scottish Arts Council runs various lottery and voted fund schemes that give priority access to arts development projects for young people with disabilities.

Caledonian MacBrayne

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invest in modern replacement or additional vessels for the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet this financial year.

Sarah Boyack: We are in discussions with the European Commission on our proposals for the tendering of CalMac’s present routes to bring them into line with European state aid rules, including the arrangements governing investment in new vessels. Accordingly, discussion about new vessels would be premature.

Employment

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage older people back into the labour market.

Ms Wendy Alexander: New Deal 50 plus provides financial incentives for older people and has helped find work for over 4,000 people in Scotland since April 2000.

  The new Careers Scotland will offer all Scots, including older people, a one-stop shop careers guidance service.

European Union

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effects the proposals contained in the Treaty of Nice will have on Scotland’s economy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Treaty of Nice contains provisions designed to ensure that enlargement of the European Union can take place as soon as possible. The main changes are to the institutions of the European Union, which will have no direct short-term impact on the Scottish economy. In the longer term, enlargement, and more efficient EU institutions, present many opportunities to increase the number of jobs and GDP in Scotland and to enhance peace, stability and prosperity across Europe.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the detailed spending plans for the additional money made available as a result of the 2001 UK budget.

Angus MacKay: I will do so after the Finance Committee has reported on phase 1 of the budget.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what difficulties the 20-day standstill rule following the movement of cattle and sheep could cause farmers, especially those in peripheral areas, and whether it has any plans to modify the rule in the light of any difficulties experienced.

Ross Finnie: No decisions have yet been taken on the 20-day standstill rule. The consultation period on the proposal has just ended and the responses, along with comments from meetings with key industry sectors, are being carefully considered.

  I am of course well aware of the far-reaching implications that such a standstill would have for Scottish farming. I am also aware, however, that we must do all we can to prevent any repetition of the rapid and unchecked spread of foot-and-mouth disease which has had such devastating effects on almost everyone in rural areas.

Further Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what accreditation it considers that professional dance courses in Scotland should have.

Allan Wilson: It is for providers of such courses to determine, in conjunction with the relevant awarding authority, the type and standard of qualification applicable to the training provided.

Further Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made to enquiries from Ballet West with regard to guidance on accreditation.

Allan Wilson: I am asking officials to work with Ballet West on the accreditation options available. Accreditation is, of course, a matter for the provider and the relevant qualification authority. Ballet West has also been encouraged to explore the possibilities of developing links with incorporated further education colleges.

Further Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Council for Dance Education and Training with regard to the accreditation of dance courses.

Allan Wilson: None.

Further Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce in Scotland a scheme similar to the Dance and Drama Awards Scheme in England.

Allan Wilson: There are no current plans to introduce such a scheme. We are, however, examining the issues surrounding support to Scottish students and the nature of the awards system operating in the south.

Further Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities with regard to placing and supporting students on dance courses in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: None.

Justice

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase efficiency within courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Court Service is working to improve the efficiency of the courts by investing in the training and development of court staff and the introduction of information technology. The national roll-out to all courts of the Case Management System, which will enable the electronic registration and handling of civil business, was completed at the beginning of June 2001.

  The SCS collaborates with the Justice Department and others in the review of court rules and procedures and is working closely with Crown Office to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programming of criminal business.

Justice

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering holding a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the conviction for rape of Adam Carruthers of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.

Mr Jim Wallace: I understand that Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are currently considering misconduct proceedings against Mr Carruthers. It would be inappropriate to comment further pending the outcome of that consideration.

Local Government

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the programme is for future review of local government constituencies and how it will ensure that the wider implications of such review are taken into account.

Peter Peacock: The next statutory review of local authority electoral wards is scheduled to take place between 2006 and 2010. Any implications arising from that review will be considered at that time.

Marriage

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to amend legislation to enable civil marriages to take place elsewhere than local registration offices.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has today published a White Paper on Civil Marriages Outwith Registration Offices . Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Views on the content of the paper are being sought by 17 August 2001. As is made clear in the White Paper, it is our intention to take forward Euan Robson’s proposal for a Member’s Bill as a Scottish Executive Bill. We would hope to introduce the Bill as soon as possible after the close of the consultation period.

NHS Staff

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the extent of bullying of NHS staff.

Susan Deacon: New Dignity at Work guidance was issued to the service in January, which made clear that bullying in the NHS is not acceptable. Data on the number of incidents of aggression and harassment are due to be collected for the first time over the summer. The data should be available by the end of the year and will be published.

NHS Waiting Times

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times currently are for a tonsillectomy at both the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley and Vale of Leven Hospital and what the target waiting times are for the end of 2001.

Susan Deacon: Provisional figures for the year ending 31 December 2000 show that the median waiting times for tonsillectomies at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Vale of Leven Hospital were 56 days and 161 days respectively.

  The current national waiting times guarantee for inpatient/day case treatment is 12 months. As stated in Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change, this will be reduced to 9 months by 2003.

Residential Care

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been refunded to date in registration fees to private care home owners under the Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1998.

Malcolm Chisholm: Local authorities have been asked to provide details by 29 June of the total amount of registration fees to be refunded for their area as a result of the Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1998. Only Highland Council so far has submitted details, and refunds totalling £12,632 have been approved by the Executive for payment by them.

Schools

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date the backlog of outstanding school repairs will be cleared at current levels of expenditure.

Mr Jack McConnell: We are currently discussing with local authority representatives school building needs in order to clarify the level of need for improvement, and establish strategic priorities for future funding.

Sport

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the further development of sport.

Allan Wilson: With  sportscotland we continue to drive forward the targets set by Sport 21. Our priorities for the further development of sport over the next three years were outlined during the debate on sport in November last year when we announced a 20% increase in funding for  sportscotland and, over the next three years, an additional £3 million from the Lottery Sports Fund. This funding will enable  sportscotland, amongst other things, to expand the Active Primary Schools Programme, to develop further the School Sport Co-ordinator Programme and to work with the Social Inclusion Partnerships to help increase the numbers of people participating in sport who live in areas of economic and social disadvantage. We also intend to develop a major events strategy this year.

Water Authorities

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reached a decision on its proposal to create a single all-Scotland water authority.

Ross Finnie: The proposal to create a single water authority included in the consultation on the Water Services Bill was supported by a substantial majority of those commenting on the issue. The Transport and Environment Committee in its report on the water industry, which was published today, indicated that it also supports the proposal. I am pleased to announce therefore that we will introduce legislation later this year to create a single public water authority for Scotland that will work in the interests of its customers by improving standards and efficiency, modernising its infrastructure and competing effectively in a rapidly developing market.